Russian Interference with U.S. Elections

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Over the years, Russia has been interfering with U.S. elections. This has been going on for several years now, long before the 2016 election. But it seems to have become more visible during that election. It is not that the Russians are trying to pick winners and loser but rather to play both sides against the middle. In a sense to polarize the electorate into left liberal camp and right conservative camp, thereby destroying the middle ground. And from what I observe they have succeeded quite well in doing that. There are now only two camps in congress and there is no bipartisanship, only vile extreme rhetoric.

So I noticed an interesting article that surfaced yesterday and I wanted to make sure that this tidbit of news did not go unnoticed.

The American military took down a Russian troll farm last Election Day [the midterm election of 2018] in a cyberattack that continued for several days after the vote, part of what United States officials have said is a persistent campaign to block and deter interference in American democracy.

The operation was intended to prevent the Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, from spreading propaganda or disinformation aimed at undermining confidence in the midterm vote or the results of the election, American officials said.

The operation was aimed at taking the Internet Research Agency off line for several days, from Election Day until the results were certified by local officials.

The Internet Research Agency, the best known of the Russian troll farms that create large amounts of propaganda, has been accused by the United States government of meddling in the 2016 elections. It is not part of the Russian government, but is controlled by oligarchs loyal to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

Intelligence agencies had assessed that the Russian troll farms that create and spread disinformation in the United States and Europe were likely to step up their disinformation activity on the day of the vote and while votes were being counted.

Officials said the Election Day operations were part of a larger campaign led by United States Cyber Command and the National Security Agency to secure the midterm vote. Those operations began with a campaign of direct messages sent to Russian operatives who had created disinformation and propaganda aimed at sowing dissent and undermining confidence in American voting systems. Those direct messages were aimed at deterring the creators of propaganda.

Source: Cyber Command Operation Took Down Russian Troll Farm for Midterm Elections

The article reinforces what I said at the beginning.

After the election, under another White House executive order, the director of national intelligence conducted an analysis of foreign interference during the midterm election.

That report, which has not been made public, found that the Russians sought to interfere in the vote, not by trying to hack voting machines but by spreading disinformation. The report found that Russia used social media, fake personas and Moscow-controlled media to inflame opposite ideological sides with an aim of further polarizing the United States.

We fought back for a change!

Meanwhile millions of people from other countries try to influence US elections. Even in this tiny subforum it occurs on a daily basis.

Seems the notion is when the millions on social media from the UK, its commonwealths and other countries try their hardest to influence American voters they're all operating as individuals.

When Russians do it they're all government agents operating from a secret complex.

I've seen a lot of information on the subject, I don't really see how any bot should be allowed on social media, it's not a place for bots, it's a place for people.

Our mainstream media does the exact same thing. The news broadcasts themselves are more damaging than any other countries influence IMO. All they do is try to separate people, it's too obvious and it really sucks, too many people buy into it, but it does seem as if people are waking up to it.

America has spent decades trying to influence other countries elections